Chapter 26: Offering You a Future

Lei Ying stood up and peered at the imperial army, only to find that it still numbered five thousand. The strength had not increased. This left him utterly bewildered. Could they honestly expect to conquer Vulture Mountain with such a small force? Was this not simply a death wish?

"Lei Zhan, pass the word down: double the frequency of our patrols. We must ensure the imperial army does not attempt to flank us or climb the cliffs to launch a sneak attack."

"Understood! If they dare to try, I guarantee they won't even have bones left to bury," the second-in-command, Lei Zhan, replied with palpable excitement.

Li Ye sat on his horse at the front of the army. Several shopkeepers stepped forward to salute him.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

"Gentlemen, there is no need for such formalities. Today, I must rely on all of you."

"We set out the moment we received your letter, Your Highness. We will do our absolute best."

Li Ye nodded slightly. He gestured to Xiao Cui, who handed him an earthen megaphone. Li Ye raised it and shouted toward the mountain, "I am the Sixth Prince of the current dynasty, acting under the Emperor's mandate to pacify Vulture Mountain! Who is the leader on the mountain? Do you dare to face me and speak?"

The bandits on Vulture Mountain erupted in a flurry of commotion at the shout. They all craned their necks to look toward the army. They could not fathom why the Dayuan Dynasty would send a Sixth Prince to lead an assault against them. Was there not a single capable general left in the imperial court? Or was this Prince actually a master of war? Did he truly believe he could break Vulture Mountain?

Since he had called him out, Lei Ying would not show weakness. Standing on the gatehouse, he shouted back, "I am the Great Chieftain of Vulture Mountain! Speak your piece!"

Li Ye, regardless of whether the other side could see his expression clearly, wore a wide smile. He cupped his hands in a gesture of courtesy and said, "So you are the Great Chieftain of Vulture Mountain! A pleasure, truly a pleasure!"

"Spare me the pleasantries! Use whatever tactics you have! There are no cowards on Vulture Mountain. If you don't want to die, retreat now and save yourself the casualties."

Li Ye shouted back, "I have no desire for excessive bloodshed. After all, many of the people in your stronghold are innocent. You are all descendants of the former dynasty's remnants, not hardened criminals. Furthermore, I have had my people investigate thoroughly: your stronghold does not pillage the local populace, nor do you harm others without cause. This proves that you operate with a code, unlike other bandits."

Lei Ying sneered, "Enough nonsense! What do you actually want? Don't tell me you brought five thousand men just to shower us with praise?"

"Of course not! I have come to offer you a better future."

"A future? Are you here to demand our surrender? I suggest you abandon that thought. We farm and provide for ourselves on this mountain; we have no need for your imperial oppression. Our lives are carefree and unrestrained. You have sent troops many times before, only for them to return in defeat. Why should we submit to the imperial court?"

Li Ye patiently persuaded, "That is where you are mistaken. Perhaps you, as the leader, feel carefree. But have you considered the ordinary people living on Vulture Mountain? Can they eat their fill? Can they keep warm? If they fall ill, can they receive treatment? Do you intend for your descendants to cower on this mountain for eternity, never seeing the world beyond?"

"Hmph, save your honeyed words! At least on this mountain, we don't have to worry about corrupt officials, nor do we pay taxes. We live by our own merit; we are much better off than those outside."

Li Ye countered, "Even if you are right, have you considered that the Dayuan Dynasty is growing stronger by the day? Even if we failed to clear you out before, who is to say we won't succeed in the future? When the army surrounds you, you won't even have the chance to surrender."

Lei Ying looked unconvinced. "Stop trying to scare me with such talk. Try breaching our gates first!"

Li Ye remained calm and unhurried. "Apart from the main road, there are four small paths leading to Vulture Mountain. Though treacherous, they allow a small number of people in and out of the stronghold. I have already sealed them all! While there are several springs on the mountain for drinking and irrigation, the water sources originate outside. If I cut off these water routes, you will struggle to find water, let alone irrigate your fields. If I lay siege, your food will eventually run out. While your position is easy to defend and hard to attack, it is just as easy to trap you. As long as I hold the vital chokepoints, none of you will ever get out. Thirdly, the vegetation on the mountain is at its most lush right now. If I were to order my men to set the mountain ablaze, how long could your people hold out...?"

With every word Li Ye spoke, he struck a vulnerable nerve. Lei Ying's face turned paler with each sentence. This was the greatest secret of Vulture Mountain, unknown to outsiders for years. How could a Prince possibly know this? Was there a traitor in the stronghold?

Lei Ying's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly shook his head, casting the thought aside. He believed that none of his people would ever betray him, nor would they have the opportunity. Gritting his teeth, he roared back at Li Ye, "Then give it a try! Even if we die, every last person on Vulture Mountain will drag you down to hell with us!"

Li Ye saw that the other's psychological defenses were on the verge of collapse. His odds of victory had increased. "Don't be so agitated! I told you, I did not bring this army to engage in a bloody conflict, but to offer you a bright future! Also, I would like you to meet a few people."

With that, Li Ye signaled to the shopkeepers. They walked forward a distance and greeted Lei Ying.

"Chieftain, I trust you have been well!"

A flicker of panic crossed Lei Ying's face. "Have you been captured by the authorities?" He suddenly grew furious. "You corrupt official! Why seize these innocent people? Even if these merchants do business with us, they have never harmed anyone else!"

"Chieftain, you misunderstand. His Highness, the Sixth Prince, is our patron, not what you think," one of the shopkeepers explained. "All these years, the medicinal herbs, the paper, the ink, the cloth—everything we supplied to Vulture Mountain was authorized by His Highness."

Lei Ying was stunned. He could not comprehend why a Prince would help their stronghold. For years under siege, living supplies had been scarce—especially medicine and clothing. When people in the stronghold fell ill, they had to tough it out. Clothes were worn until they were rags, patched time and time again. Even though they had sent people out to purchase supplies in secret, it was a drop in the bucket for such a large population. Many were in rags, forced to cover themselves with leaves.

These merchants, who had provided them with goods over the years, were their saviors. And now, they were being told that their benefactor was a Prince of the Dayuan Dynasty. He simply could not believe it.